Fluid simulation apparatus

This application is the U.S. national stage of PCT/EP2020/080571 filed on Oct. 30, 2020, which claims priority of Great Britain Application No. GB 2000646.6 filed on Jan. 16, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein.

The present disclosure relates to a bodily fluid simulation apparatus, a fluid simulation system and a method of simulating a discharge of a bodily fluid.

In the training of medical personnel various medical procedures may be practised or simulated on manikins, simulated patients or standardised patients. The similarity between the practice procedures and real procedures can be increased through the provision of simulated bodily fluid, referred to herein as a bodily fluid analogue.

Typically bodily fluid analogue is provided by either pouring the bodily fluid analogue onto a manikin or into the medical training environment. For example, a bodily fluid analogue for blood may be loaded into a storage space within a manikin, and caused to be discharged through an orifice in the manikin to simulate bleeding.

These methods have the drawback that the bodily fluid analogue flows freely over the manikin or the medical training environment. This increases the amount of time needed to clean up the manikin/medical training environment for re-use compared to practice procedures in which a bodily fluid analogue is not provided. This, in turn, limits the number of practice procedures that can be performed with a given manikin/medical training environment in a given time period.

Additionally, some manikins include electronics which may be damaged if they come into contact with a fluid. If a bodily fluid analogue is used with such a manikin it is necessary to protect the electronics (e.g. by providing a waterproof cover for the electronics, or by providing fluid-absorbing material around the electronics).

The present disclosure attempts to address some of the drawbacks associated with prior art fluid simulation methods and apparatuses.

According to a first aspect there is provided a fluid simulation apparatus comprising: a simulation pad having an internal reservoir, the simulation pad comprising at least one transparent outer surface through which a portion of the internal reservoir is visible; a source configured to contain a bodily fluid analogue; and a conduit fluidly connecting the source to the internal reservoir of the simulation pad; wherein the fluid simulation apparatus is controllable to cause bodily fluid analogue within the source to be delivered through the conduit to the simulation pad.

Optionally, the fluid simulation apparatus comprises a valve configured to control a rate of fluid flow between the source and the simulation pad.

Optionally, the source of bodily fluid analogue comprises a container configured to contain the bodily fluid analogue above the level of the simulation pad, and a valve, wherein the valve is configured to control a rate of fluid flow between the source and the simulation pad.

Optionally, the source of simulated bodily fluid comprises a container configured to contain the bodily fluid analogue, and a pump, wherein the pump is operable control a variable rate of fluid flow between the source and the simulation pad.

Optionally, the container is configured to contain the bodily fluid analogue below the simulation pad.

Optionally, the fluid simulation apparatus further comprises a controller operably coupled to valve and/or pump and configured to vary a rate of fluid flow between the source and the simulation pad.

The controller may comprise a user interface operable by a user to set the rate of fluid flow.

Optionally, the controller is operable to vary a rate of fluid flow between the source of bodily fluid analogue and the simulation pad according to one or more pre-set fluid delivery profiles.

At least one of the pre-set fluid delivery profiles may be configured to deliver the bodily fluid analogue for a limited predetermined duration at a plurality of different fluid flow rates within the predetermined duration.

Optionally, the simulation pad comprises a waterproof base and a cover sealed to the base at a periphery of the cover wherein the internal reservoir is formed between the cover and the base, and wherein the cover comprises the transparent outer surface.

Optionally, a fluid absorbent material is disposed in the internal reservoir of the simulation pad.

Optionally, the fluid absorbent material is removable and/or replaceable from the internal reservoir. Optionally, the fluid absorbent material is reusable.

Optionally, the internal reservoir is openable and closeable to permit removal and/or replacement of the fluid absorbent material and bodily fluid analogue received therein.

Optionally, the source is integral with the simulation pad.

Optionally, the bodily fluid analogue is one of: venous blood analogue, arterial blood analogue, urine analogue, feces analogue, amniotic fluid analogue, and birthing meconium analogue.

Optionally, the source is charged with the bodily fluid analogue for delivery to the simulation pad.

According to a second aspect there is provided fluid simulation system comprising a fluid simulation apparatus according to the first aspect and a manikin, wherein the manikin is disposed on or adjacent the simulation pad, and wherein the source is optionally provided within the manikin.

According to a third aspect there is provided method of simulating a discharge of bodily fluid using a fluid simulation apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising: controlling a rate at which bodily fluid analogue is delivered from the source to the simulation pad.

Optionally, the method further comprises: prior to bodily fluid being delivered to the simulation pad, evacuating the simulation pad of gas, for example by vacuum sealing the simulation pad.

Where the method is performed using a fluid simulation apparatus wherein the internal reservoir is openable and closeable to permit removal of the fluid absorbent material and bodily fluid analogue received therein, the method may optionally comprise: opening the internal reservoir; removing the fluid absorbent material; removing the bodily fluid analogue to clean the internal reservoir; inserting a fluid absorbent material within the internal reservoir; closing the internal reservoir, optionally wherein the internal reservoir is closed by vacuum sealing.

Where the method is performed using a fluid simulation apparatus wherein the source of bodily fluid analogue comprises a container configured to contain the bodily fluid analogue above the level of the simulation pad, and a valve, wherein the valve is configured to control a rate of fluid flow between the source and the simulation pad, the method may optionally comprise: arranging the fluid simulation apparatus so that the container is disposed above the level of the simulation pad so that the bodily fluid analogue is biased to flow towards the simulation pad.

Where the method is performed using a fluid simulation apparatus wherein the source of simulated bodily fluid comprises a container configured to contain the bodily fluid analogue, and a pump, wherein the pump is operable control a variable rate of fluid flow between the source and the simulation pad, the method may optionally comprise: arranging the fluid simulation apparatus so that the container is below the level of the simulation pad.

According to a fourth aspect there is provided fluid simulation apparatus comprising: a length of sheet material having the appearance of a discharge of bodily fluid on a surface; and a motor unit configured to operate a dispensing mechanism to feed out the sheet material from a retracted configuration.

The dispensing mechanism may comprise a roll of the sheet material which is fed out by the motor unit rotating the roll.

Optionally, a controller is connected to the motor unit to control a rate of feeding out the sheet material.

Optionally, the controller comprises a user interface operable by a user to set the rate of feeding out the sheet material, optionally wherein the controller is operable to vary the rate of feeding out the sheet material according to one or more pre-set sheet feeding profiles.

At least one of the pre-set sheet feeding profiles may be configured to feed out the sheet material for a limited predetermined duration at a plurality of different rates of feeding out the sheet material within the predetermined duration.

Optionally, the sheet material comprises a fluid simulation pattern formed by at least one of: paint, ink, a colored translucent layer, a foam, a fluid captive between layers of the sheet material, and a gel captive between layers of the sheet material.

Aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures. Further aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

schematically shows a fluid simulation apparatusprior to use in simulation a discharge of bodily fluid. The fluid simulation apparatuscomprises a simulation pad. For example, the simulation padmay be in the form of a sheet for laying in a medical training environment, such as a rectilinear sheet. The simulation padis fluidly connected to a sourceof bodily fluid analogue via a conduit. Examples of bodily fluid analogues suitable for use with in the present disclosure include venous blood analogue, arterial blood analogue, and urine analogue.

In the example shown in, the sourcecomprises a fluid container, containing a bodily fluid analogue F, suspended at a position vertically higher than the simulation pad. A valvecan be provided, for example within the sourceor in the conduit, which is configured to control a rate of fluid delivery from the containerinto the conduit, for example by stopping and permitting flow, and permitting flow at a variable controllable flow rate

In the initial configuration of the fluid simulation apparatus as shown in, the valve is configured to stop flow of the bodily fluid analogue, and so all of the fluid F is held within the containerand no fluid F is within the simulation pad.

A controllermay be operably coupled to the valve to start/stop fluid flow between the controllable fluid sourceand the simulation pad, and to vary a rate of fluid flow between the controllable fluid sourceand the simulation pad.

In some examples, the controller may be operable to vary a rate of fluid flow between the source of bodily fluid analogue and the simulation pad according to one or more pre-set fluid deliver profiles. At least one of the one or more pre-set routines may define or be configured to cause a plurality of different fluid flow rates of the bodily fluid analogue within a limited predetermined duration of flow delivery.

For example, in the context of a bleeding simulation, there may be an initial period of relatively low flow, followed by a sudden increase in flow associated with heavy bleeding as may be caused by e.g. trauma or uterine atony. The controller may be provided with a user interfacethrough which a user may set the rate of fluid flow, select a pre-set flow delivery profile, or modify a routine currently in progress (e.g. to simulate a sudden trauma during a medical training exercise).

In other examples, the valve may be manually operable to control the rate of fluid delivery. For example, in the context of a birth simulation a user (e.g. an instructor) may set the valve to deliver a relatively heavy flow for an initial period to simulate a post-partum haemorrhage. The user may manually operate the valve to reduce the rate of fluid flow in response to mitigation actions taken by a trainee during the birth simulation, e.g. palpitating an abdomen of a manikin/simulated patient or using a ‘Bakri balloon’.

schematically shows the fluid simulation apparatusofin a second configuration corresponding to a simulation of bodily fluid discharge in progress. Like reference numerals have been retained to indicate the same parts.

In the second configuration, the valve has opened to permit fluid to flow from the containerthrough the conduitsuch that a first amount of the fluid F has passed into a first region Rof the internal reservoir of the simulation pad. The first region Ris proximate a point at which the conduitconnects to the internal reservoir.

schematically shows the fluid simulation apparatusofin a third configuration corresponding to continued discharge of the bodily fluid analogue of fluid simulation. Like reference numerals have been retained to indicate the same parts.

In the third configuration, the valve has been maintained in the same position as inand a greater amount of the fluid F has passed from the container, through the conduitand into the simulation pad such that the bodily fluid analogue extends through a larger second region Rof the internal reservoir of the simulation pad. The second region Rextends a greater distance than the first region Rfrom the point at which the conduitconnects to the internal reservoir.

In use, the apparatus is oriented or arranged such that the point at which the conduitconnects to the internal reservoir is proximate the manikin or simulated patient. In some examples, the apparatus may be oriented or arranged such that the point at which the conduitconnects to the internal reservoir is proximate or adjacent an orifice or wound of the manikin or simulated patient.

schematically shows an exploded view of the simulation pad of the simulation apparatus of. Like reference numerals have been retained to indicate the same parts.

The simulation padcomprises a waterproof base. The simulation padfurther comprises a transparent cover, the whole or part of which may be transparent so that the interior of the fluid reservoir is visible through it. The transparent coveris joined to the waterproof baseat a periphery of the transparent cover. The transparent covermay be permanently joined to the waterproof basealong some or all of its edges (e.g. by stitching, seaming, gluing, etc,) or may be removably joined to the waterproof base(e.g. using hook and loop fasteners, zips, etc.) along some or all of its edges, provided that a watertight seal is formed between the two components. For example, the waterproof baseand transparent covermay be provided by a bag joined at three edges with a sealable fourth edge. The sealable edge may be sealable by heat sealing, for example by a combined vacuum and heat sealing apparatus, or may be provided with a resealable fixing (such as hook and loop fasteners, zips, or a Ziploc® seal). In some examples, the transparent covermay be integrally formed with the waterproof base.